This black and white photograph shows twenty-two cleft palate patients of Dr. William L. Shearer sitting with four nurses, who are wearing white deaconess nurses' uniforms and caps. Some of the younger children are wearing arm casts to keep their hands away from their faces after recent surgery. Three children are sitting in high chairs. A note in the bottom right-hand corner reads, "To Sister Olive Cullenberg. With sincere regards from Dr. William L. Shearer. June 26-1938.

Dr. William L. Shearer, oral and plastic surgeon, treated hundreds of children for cleft palates at the Immanuel Deaconess Institute hospital. Sister Olive Cullenberg was a member of the staff at the Immanuel Deaconess Institute hospital for forty-one years, starting in 1914. In 1948, she became the hospital administrator.